Just Before The Birth Again- Japan- Pregnant- U... !!top!!

If you are currently pregnant in Tokyo, Osaka, or rural Honshu, and you are approaching the final countdown (36–40 weeks), you know that the Japanese approach to pre-labor is different. This article covers everything you need to know about the final ultrasound, the "Oshirushi" (signs of labor), and the unique rituals of the Japanese third trimester.

Japan has a word for this feeling: Ma (間). It’s the space between things. The pause between the inhale and the exhale. The silence between two notes of music. Right now, my entire body is Ma . Just before the birth again- Japan- Pregnant- U...

If you are reading this from a coffee shop in London, or a living room in New York, or a similar apartment in Osaka—take a breath. The waiting is the labor, too. The waiting is the work. If you are currently pregnant in Tokyo, Osaka,